A Nod to Rankin-Bass
They call it animagic.
Each figurine that you see on the screen has free range of motion and is assigned a technician. So at each camera frame, the technician moves the figurine ever so slightly so that at the end of the production, these frames are run so that the figurines appear they are moving.
In this era of computer-generated imagery, it’s always nice to remember and appreciate the old school “animation” work. And nothing says “old school” like the work of Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass. And, frankly, nothing heralds the beginning of the holiday season like the arrival of Rankin-Bass holiday TV specials.
Much of their work has been relegated to random cable channels available to a few lucky folks across the country. Other than “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” the big networks today largely ignore the other Rankin-Bass work.
A friend of mine and I, who are in our 40s, were talking to a couple of young people, who were 30 or so, and mentioned the Rankin-Bass work and specifically riffed on the great Snow Miser-Heat Miser song from “The Year Without a Santa Claus.”
Guess what? They had no idea what we were talking about.
How about Hermey the elf? Nothing.
How about Yukon Cornelius? Nothing.
What if there are others like them? What a horrible reality that would be. Imagine. Growing up and not experiencing Rankin-Bass during the holidays.
So, to help my younger friends get a better understanding of Rankin-Bass Holiday TV Specials, I offer the following quick reviews. All of these specials are available on DVD.
One note: These are quick reviews of only Rankin-Bass specials using the animagic process so you won’t find “Frosty” here.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
This hour-long special is the flagship for Rankin-Bass. It’s got it all – drama, comedy, singing, and dancing. Well written and engaging, this special never gets old and continues to resonate in the consciousness of most Boomers (AFLAC recognizes this). You have the added bonus of Burl Ives being the narrator. We’re introduced to Hermey the Elf, the Land of Misfit Toys, Yukon Cornelius, and the “Bumble.” If you don’t watch any other Rankin-Bass specials, this is the one.
The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
Aaron gives the only gift he has to the baby in the manger – a song on his drum. This 30-minute special is narrated by Greer Garson and stars Jose Ferrer as Ben Haramid. The Vienna Boys choir sings the title song. The production quality of this special has not held up well over the years but I still get misty at the end when Aaron’s pet lamb, Bimbaba, is run over by a runaway cart. One note to parents of little kids: Aaron is orphaned when his parents are murdered by bandits.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970)
Fred Astaire narrated this hour-long special that got its inspiration from the song of the same name. It tells the story of Santa and answers many questions: Where does Santa’s suit come from? Why does Santa come down a chimney? Why does Santa put stuff in stockings? It also introduces a great character – Burgermeister Meisterburger. Mickey Rooney voices Kris Kringle/Santa Claus. Admittedly, some of the songs are cringe-inducing but if you watch it for any reason, you must watch Miss Jessica sing her solo while accompanied by interesting visual effects. You keep expecting Grace Slick to show up.
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
So Santa (Mickey Rooney) wakes up with a cold. To help out, Mrs. Claus (Shirley Booth) calls the world’s grumpiest elf doctor. He tells Santa to take the year off because no one cares or believes. Thus we begin a series of shenanigans. We meet Jingle and Jangle, two of Santa’s elves whose hearts are in the right place but need to stick to making toys. We meet Ignatius Thistlewhite and his family, who live in Southtown (apparently they don’t have an orthodontist in Southtown). The songs are passable but the clear showstopper here are the Miser Brothers – Snow Miser and Heat Miser. Their song is one of the true Rankin-Bass classics (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy does a great version).
Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)
Okay, I’ll go ahead and warn you that the “cheese” factor on this 30-minute special is off the scale. Roger Miller tells the tale of Nestor, who is born with unusually long ears. Of course he is mocked and teased. And, in following a tried and true tradition, Nestor’s mother is killed off early on. But Nestor’s destiny lies elsewhere. Despite years of rejection, he winds up carrying a young couple to Bethlehem. Turns out the young couple is Mary, who was “great with child,” and her husband, Joseph. Nestor’s ears help guide them through a sandstorm and protect Mary and her unborn child. Brenda Vaccaro voices Tilly, a Christmas angel.
Happy Holidays!
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1 comment:
As a child, Rankin-Bass WAS the true meaning of Christmas. Still love them for nostalgic sake. Our favorite, not animatronic though, is Twas the Night Before. This little gem is almost forgotten.
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